More Than A Prophet
Reading: Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 18-19:
In the history of Israel, Moses stands in a place by himself.
• He was the great lawgiver,
• A worker of extraordinary miracles,
• A prophet of incomparable stature,
• A man who spoke with God face to face.
In Deuteronomy 18:18-19:
• God promised Moses that in time to come;
• He would raise up another prophet like him.
18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.
Since that statement:
• (1). Over the years many have claimed to be prophets.
• And false prophets abound who have claimed this passage referred to them.
• (2). Some interpreters regard this promise as having been fulfilled collectively;
• In the line of such prophets as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel etc
Yet, the people of Israel in Jesus’ day were still looking for “the Prophet.”:
Quote John chapter 1 verse 19-21:
19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”
21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Although the prophecy of Deuteronomy chapter 18 may refer to many of the prophets,
• It was understood by the Jewish people that its ultimate fulfilment would be;
• In some specific, climactic individual, in The Messiah.
(A). Prophets in general.
• Prophets were a special type of people,
• And there were three things that marked out a prophet.
(1). A genuine prophet obeyed Gods call.
2 examples: of God calling the prophet.
• (First). Quote Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 15:
• “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me……..”.
• (Second): Quote Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 18:
• I will raise up for them a prophet like you
Prophets were chosen by God and personally called to their job.
• God’s choosing of prophets:
• Had nothing to do with social standing, or a special talent,
• Being a Prophet did not come by legacy or by inheritance.
• It was irrelevant whether or not his father was a prophet,
• It was not an occupation that an individual chose,
• It was not the result of prayer or a devotional life,
• A prophet couldn’t choose his job.
• God chose the prophets and called them, they did not choose that calling.
In fact some prophets like Amos:
• Who was a herdsman and fig-picker from Tekoa,
• Were definitely not “preacher materiel”.
• Yet God’s calling on his life was unmistakably.
• Quote: Amos chapter 7 verses 14-15.
14Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
(2). A genuine prophet welcomed Gods word:
Quote: Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 18:
8I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
• True prophets spoke for God as his personal mouthpiece.
• A prophet was a middle man who delivered God’s message, God’s word:
• The message did not originate with the prophet,
• The message was not for the prophet.
• Ill: dispatch rider delivers a parcel or ill: Postman a letter.
• So a prophet delivered a message.
• Often they might not even have understood what they were asked to say,
• But as faithful middle men they always said it, they always delivered God’s words,
• Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18 is a clear example of this:
• “My words in his mouth……, and he will tell them everything I command him”.
Mow a prophets words carried weight:
• They came with authority, and people knew they were telling the truth,
• And therefore people tended to fear prophets.
Ill:
An example of this is Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 22:
"You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken from the Lord ?"
If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true,
that is a message the Lord has not spoken.
That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him".
Note:
• Those last couple of words;
• "Afraid of him".
• People were afraid of prophets:
• Because they were aware that when true prophets spoke, things happened!
ill:
So if they said.......,,,.
• "….beware", then you were wise to beware.
• Or "….a famine was coming": Then you were wise to prepare for a famine.
(3). A genuine prophet imparted Gods message
Although there was actually a school for the prophets:
• That’s were it ended; prophets mainly operated as loners and not in groups.
• It was not a ‘team-work’ ministry, they usually they went out on their own.
(1). Prophets were courageous men who had to deliver unpleasant news;
• Anyone can deliver good news, that’s easy,
• ill: every preacher prefers to speak on the love of God rather than judgement of God.
• But again and again the prophets had to take bad news to the people!
• That is always very, very difficult (it will certainly not make you popular!)
(2). Prophets were the conscience of their society;
• But people can ignored and even severe their consciences,
• So the prophets found themselves ignored as well.
(3). True prophets were trailblazers,
• They were God’s select soldiers;
• Courageous, undaunted, yet alone!
• The life of a prophet was not an easy one,
• But bravely they stuck at the task.
(4). A prophet was a special kind of person and very different to a priest:
• A priest was different because, being a priest ran in the family,
• Even if the son of a priest was spiritually weak & poor,
• He could still be a priest, he could still do his job as a priest very well,
• Because his work was quite routine.
A prophet however did not act by routine or pattern:
• And they were often very different to each other,
• e.g. Elijah was totally different to Jeremiah & Isaiah to Hosea
Often they themselves were the message and not just what they said:
• They were one off visual signs.
• Living illustrations.
ill:
• Hosea was told to marry a prostitute called Gomer.
• He was told to marry a woman who would constantly cheat on him, an adulteress.
Ill:
• Isaiah was told to call his second child Maher-shalal-hashbaz (chapter 8)
• Which is incidentally the longest name in the bible.
• Name means “Quick loot, fast plunder”
• Warning that very soon Assyria will loot and plunder Judah, and Jerusalem.
(5). A prophets mission, job may change drastically;
• He might anoint a king to office,
• Later he may bring that same king a severe reprimand,
• Because a prophet often brought bad news as well as good:
• They had to be tough and courageous people,
• True to God rather than seekers of popularity.
Quote Leon Wood:
"An individual had to be an outstanding person to be a prophet,
prophets had to be people of outstanding character, great minds, and courageous souls, they had to be this by nature,
and then being dedicated to God, they became still greater because of the tasks and special provisions assigned them,
thus they became the towering giants of Israel,
the formers of public opinion, the leaders through days of darkness, people distinguished from all those about them either in Israel or other nations of the day".
• Prophets were the conscience of their nation:
• Exposing the people to the sin in their own lives.
Note:
• Like the other true prophets of Israel,
• Jesus also exercised these functions:
Ill:
• John chapter 3 vs 34
• Jesus did all three functions of a prophet.
4For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God,
• He was called and sent by God the Father.
• He did not deliver his own message but that which the Father had given him.
Jesus very much acted like the prophets of old:
(1).
• Jesus rebuked, he spoke out against the moral lethargy of the people.
• E.g. Sermon on the Mount.
(2).
• He also uttered predictions, E.g. (Luke 21:20-24) The destruction of Jerusalem,
• Which occurred some forty years t later in 70 C.E.
(3).
• Frequently the prophets performed miracles (e.g. Moses long list!)
• To authenticate their message as coming from God. Jesus also performed miracles.
• Individuals Jesus encountered soon recognised these qualities in him.
• In fact the name Prophet was often linked to him.
(b). A closer look at the prophecy:
• Deuteronomy chapter 18 does not just predict a coming prophet;
• More specifically, verse 18 says; this prophet was to be “like Moses.”
Question: How was Jesus like Moses?
Answer: 3 examples
(1). As a baby.
• In the book of Exodus chapter 2;
• Pharaoh became worried of the increasing number of Hebrew slaves being born,
• He feared that they were a threat to his rule, so he devised a cunning plan,
• He ordered all male babies to be killed. But Moses was hidden and escaped.
Link:
• It is striking to compare that story, with Matthew chapter 2, where King Herod,
• Another fearful ruler is worried, that a new king is about to be born, and rival him!
• He too ordered the destruction of all male babies in Bethlehem under two years of age,
• But like Moses, this baby also escaped. Joseph, Mary, and their child escaped into Egypt.
(2). As a redeemer.
• Exodus chapter 12 Moses leaves Egypt,
• He leads the Hebrews from slavery to freedom.
Link:
• Jesus, like His counterpart Moses many hundreds of years before,
• Emerged from Egypt to provide a redemption for His people.
• This time not a redemption from physical bondage,
• But redemption from slavery, redemption from the power of sin.
(3). As a miracle worker:
ill:
The life of Moses is littered with miracles,
Link:
• Like Moses, Jesus worked various miracles,
• Signs to the people that here was God’s messiah.
(3). Moses and Jesus:
• Moses was a man worked miracles, led his people to freedom,
• And spoke God’s words as a prophet of God.
• And yet great as Moses was,
• There was one greater than Moses to come - Jesus!
Ill:
Hebrews chapter 3 verse 1 to chapter 4 verse 13:
• These verses give us a number of similarities between Moses and Jesus.
• Both were appointed by God.
• Both were faithful.
• Both were related to God’s house (the term relates to people, where God dwells).
• Now despite the similarities,
• There are at least three striking contrasts.
Jesus was greater than Moses in at least 3 ways.
(1). Greater in his person (chapter 3 verses 1-2 NLT).
1And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for heaven, think about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s Messenger and High Priest. 2For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully and was entrusted with God’s entire house. 3But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a fine house deserves more praise than the house itself.
• Moses was part of the house (the term relates to people, not buildings, where God dwells).
• He was one of God’s people, the Children of Israel.
• But in contrast Jesus was the architect, the master planner,
• He is separate to the people for he created them in the first place.
• Moses knew God personally;
• But the Jesus was God permanently.
(2). Greater in his ministry (chapter 3 verses 3-6 NLT).
. 3But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a fine house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything.
5Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.
Both Moses and Jesus were faithful:
• But their ministries part at this point,
• Because Moses was a servant and Christ is the Son.
• Moses ministered using symbols, worked in the shadows
• But Jesus ministry fulfilled all those symbols, Christ brought the full and final light.
• Moses served in the house,
• But Jesus Christ is Lord over the house.
(3). Greater in the rest he gives (ch 3 vs 7- ch 4 vs 13 NLT).
Chapter 3 verses 16-19:
16Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Chapter 4 verse 8-11:
8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
The word rest is used 12 times in chapter 12 and has several different meanings:
• I would suggest that the “Rest” mentioned in these verses mean much more;
• Than a stable secure life in the Promised Land.
• Hundreds of years after Joshua’s day;
• Through the psalmist God was still appealing to people to enter his rest.
• We enter into God’s eternal rest, his eternal peace,
• As we trust him and take him at his word.
Simply put (it’s as basic as I can make it):
• Moses ‘rest’ was temporary,
• Jesus’ rest is eternal!
• Moses ‘rest’ depended on their ‘works’ their obedience.
• Our rest depends upon ‘faith’, and ‘rest’ is ours primarily because of his obedience!
